Van Hise not likely to aid Cannibal Cop's defense

NEW YORK — The Hamilton man who allegedly conspired with the “Cannibal Cop” is not likely to aid in the former officer’s defense.

The trial of Gilberto Valle, also known as the “Cannibal Cop” began on Monday and it is not likely that Michael Van Hise, of Hamilton, will testify in the case, his attorney said.

Valle is on trial for allegedly using a law enforcement database to help generate a list of potential targets, one of which included Valle’s own wife.

Valle’s attorney, Julia Gatto, said in January that Van Hise would have exonerated her client with testimony about his own participation on Internet fantasy sites like Darkfetishnet.com, where there are over 38,000 registered members sharing similar fantasies.

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Van Hise was arrested and charged in January for allegedly conspiring with Valle to kidnap, torture and kill a woman for $5,000. On Monday, Van Hise’s attorney, Alice Fontier, told The Trentonian that his arrest and indictment as a “co-defendant” makes it very difficult for him to testify in Valle’s trial. When Van Hise was arrested in January, Valle’s attorney called the arrest a tactical move by the government to prevent Van Hise from testifying in her client’s defense. Gatto said Van Hise was being used as a pawn by the government to bolster a very weak case. Van Hise’s attorney agrees that her client’s arrest was a tactical move by the government.

Van Hise’s trial has not been scheduled, Fontier said on Monday.

Van Hise was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, which carries a maximum of life-in-prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.